Honorable Mention – Essay/Short Story – Adult (18+)
Elizabeth Riehl (A) - Age 23 - Manheim
BREATH OF LIFE
Can a person deny the very Air they breathe, or their beating heart?
Can a person without pain, from their eye or hand depart?
No.
So it's a waste of time to try to convince a true, devout Christian to do so
For Jesus Christ is the Breath of Life to the Christian here below
We would much rather go to be with the One Who we love
This world is filled with pain and sorrow; we'd much rather go to live in our Home Above
And as we wait, we walk on with the Heavenly Dove
What makes you think that we want to stay
In this world so black and gray?
All of our Treasures are stored in Heaven; all we love are There
Our family members, friends, and pets; waiting for us in those Mansions so Fair
Earth has nothing binding us here
We long to leave this place filled with sorrow, death, and tears
Our only Hope is in Jesus, as we toil on, year by year
We long to lay our Armour down
And exchange our Cross for a Crown
What makes you think that we'll renounce the only Hope and Joy we have in this life?
For Jesus is the Only One safely carrying us through this world's grief and strife
He's a part of us, and we're a part of Him
Death is just a horse drawn carriage that pulls us into the Presence of God
It's impossible to deny the One Who's saved us from sin
He watches over us as through this world we plod
If Jesus and I are One
How do you expect me to renounce God's Own Son?
It's like asking me to deny that I exist
And we both know that's impossible to do
So please, don't ask me to do this
For you'll find that I'll be more than happy to go to my Home Beyond the Blue
I have nothing keeping me here
And I'll be more than happy to leave this vale of tears
So asking me to renounce my Beloved Lord Jesus Christ is just a waste of time
For with a joyful smile, I'll gladly go to my Home Sublime
Please don't waste your breath
With the threat of death
For we're not afraid to die
Instead, we're looking forward for our turn to 'fly'
I'm just a Pilgrim and a stranger here; I'm an alien in a strange and foreign land
And I would've stumbled and fallen long ago had it not been for my Jesus' Guiding Hand
Oh, I love Him so!
For He's done so much for me as I've traveled here below!
What in the world would I do without Him?
For Jesus brought me back from the wilderness of sin
How would I survive if I left my Absolute and Guide?
I would miserably perish, so I'll stick like glue to His wounded Side